Classic Rewatch: Spearhead From Space

So begins another era in the wildly unpredictable history of Doctor Who. The departure of Patrick Troughton and his co-stars at the close of the sixth season added additional uncertainty to the direction (or entire future) of the show. Producers, writers, and script editors including the legendary Terrance Dicks and Derrick Sherwin set out to redefine the television programme, breathing new life with new filming techniques, supporting cast, theme and tone, and the casting of a lead actor who could carry the demands of affability, action, […]

Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart

Emotions are complex and most often unpredictable catalysts for change. Our minds process and choose to react to events with a series of chemical releases and electrical charges, and just as we are individual in our personalities and identities, so are our responses to intense situations. What would happen if the nature of our reactions were in some way tied to those of another? Not in the sense of empathy, but actual physical and emotional pulls driven by a completely separate entity? “Loss […]

Classic Rewatch: The War Games

Sometimes, the best thing you can do when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, once you’ve tried reasoning, confronting, and even running, is to align yourself with the most unlikely (if undesirable) cohorts. The safety of the many, in this case, outweighs the freedom of the few. Besides, who doesn’t want to know what those mysterious “Time Lords” are all about, anyway? Closing the Troughton chapter of our Classic Who rewatch, we enjoy the ten-episode marathon that is ‘The War Games’. With more punches […]

Nightvisiting

[ SPOILERS! This episode discusses the new Doctor Who spin-off series, Class. ] We all deal with grief in very different, very personal ways. Whether or not we ever truly come to terms with the loss of a loved one is unpredictable at best, and hinges upon any number of factors, both in and out of our control. Consider the impact, then, of a malicious entity that feeds upon that uncertainty and emotional upheaval — attempting to manipulate us at […]

Live from L.I. Who 4

We’ve had returns to alien worlds last seen when humans only perceived the world in black and white, scaly monsters thawed from the icy depths, and accoutrements on the TARDIS console that haven’t had hands jammed into them in over a generation. There’s something magical in realizing that a new episode of Doctor Who is actually using something from the “classic” era. (And hey, with the news today that Rona Munro is coming back to write an episode for Series […]

The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo

No one has ever said that the successful balance of academics and athletics was easy. Even those who seem to accomplish this effortlessly are only demonstrating the perceived end result of discipline, training, and a fair helping of raw talent. But if you’ve decided to take on the added challenge of identifying and defeating a massive, body-skinning, flesh-consuming serpentine beast, well…you had better eat your Wheaties. (And hey, it goes without reminding you, but — SPOILERS LAY WITHIN, students.) In this GPR […]

Classic Rewatch: The Seeds of Death

It is a time of peril for the inhabitants of Earth. A time when technology has left us complacent, and the worst of all evils can prey upon us, with complete disregard for the billions of lives at stake. No, it’s not the 2016 presidential election — it’s Jamie, Zoe, and the Second Doctor as they face the Ice Warriors once again. And this time? They’re packing spores. Or…dish soap. We’re not quite sure. This week, the GPR team romps […]

For Tonight We Might Die

There are difficulties and challenges dealt with by any teenager, all part of their transition from the carefree days of youth, to the rigors and responsibilities of adulthood. We all encounter them; we all know their faces. Few if any, however, have to contend with the realization that your most acidic and callous teacher is actually a militant alien forced into servitude on this planet, and that your school social dance is about to be overrun by a horde of creatures that […]

Classic Rewatch: The Krotons

“All right, there’s no need to shout! Now go away, and don’t fuss me. No, come back. What’s this? It’s all right, I know. Right, fire away. I’m ready.” In a set of episodes that rewards viewers with timeless dialogue (“Oh, my giddy aunt!”), delightfully cold and heartless robotic killing machines, dramatic tension between a partisan populace, and more than a fair share of punches thrown, lasers fired, and chemistry lessons learned, this multifaceted sci-fi story is yet another in the long list […]

L.I. Who 4 Preview

We’ve never backed off our immense love and preference for the intimate, fan-run conventions, be they based on the Doctor Who fandom, or any other. There’s nothing like finding yourself in line for a morning cup of tea next to a celebrity or writer you admire, instead of rubbing far more than elbows with every living soul packed like so many sardines into an overcrowded convention hall. Long Island Doctor Who, or L.I. Who for short, has figured you the balance between intimacy of scale […]